Oil gasifier and burner



' March 9, 1937. cu 2,073,552

OIL GASIFIER AND BURNER Filed Ma'rch 13, 19:54 a Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR I" l Aldo Curionf;

March 9, 1937. I CURIONI 2,073,552

OIL GASIFIER AND BURNER Filed March 13, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvau oa Aldo C rran;

March 9, 1937.

A. CURIONI OIL GASIFIER AND BURNER Filed March 13, 1934 '3 Sheets-Sheet '3 IIIL J l h l rlllh.

INVEN TOR gllda (u r20 12 z ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 9. 1937 "UNITED STATES 2,013,552 I OIL GASIFIER- AND BURNER Aldo Curioni, Yorktown Heights, N. Y., assignor to The Gasolaire Corporation, New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York Application March 13, 1934, Serial No. 715,335

7 Claims. (01. 158 53) This invention relates to burning apparatus for liquid fuels and more particularly refers to improvements in oil burners of the type where liquid fuel is gasified before-combustion.

fuels are closely related to their chemical composition and to their physical characteristics, par-.

ticularly as to their content of tar and other heavy fractions and to their volatility. It is gen- 10 erally conceded that in the case of any liquid fuel the best combustion efficiency can be reached if the fuel is gasifiedbefore combustion, because this makes it easier to supply and mix with the fuel the quantity of air required for its complete combustion.-

The gasification oi sd-called volatile fuels such as gasoline, for instance; is a comparatively simple matter; it is also acomparatively simple matter to convey the gas obtained by a mixture of air and a vaporized volatile fuel from a .gen-

erating apparatus to a burner located ata distance therefrom without the danger of condensation taking place in the meantime.

fuels, however, oifer in thisrespect considerable difficulty, and most oil burning devices have,

therefore, been designed for combustion of the fuel in its liquid form.

I have found that ifa relatively heavy fuel is atomized and projected directly against a-very hot surface, so-as to be vaporized in its entirety,

and air is immediately added to and mixed with the oil vapor thus pro'ducedthe result is a combustible gas, capable of complete combustion; and that if said gas is maintained at a high temperature up to the point where its actual combustion takes place, no condensation occurs, so that uni-nterrupted'and efli'cient operation of the oil burning apparatus can be obtained, even with the heaviest grades'of oils. a 40 In endeavoring to meet in a'practical way the conditions. just described, I have, therefore,developed the oil gasifier andburner forming the subject of this invention; its primary object be-' ing to provide a. novel and improved apparatus, extremely simple in design and constmction,

adapted to effectively gasify and burn relatively heavy liquid fuels without producing any 'ma-' terialamountof residues.

Another object .is toproyide in an apparatus of the characters'pecifled, a. novel and improved type of burner proper, adapted to automatically maintainthehigh temperature of the gasifying portion thereof; once the combustion of the fuel I has been started. A further object is to provide in an gasii'y- Heavier a 2 I. I The burner portion of the apparatus is made in;

ing and burning apparatus, means simple in design and reliable in operation for automatically igniting the fuel when the operation of the device is first started. 5 The problems involved by the burning of liquid A still further object is to provide a novel and 5 improved oil. gasifier and burner, in which the mixing ofthe air necessary for combustion with the sprayed and vaporized liquid fuel is caused to take. place in a thorough and efiicient manner sothat a gas of a uniform composition will be 10 generated and delivered to the burner proper.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed in the appended claims. 15

through line 5+5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a thermoelectric control circuit, which may be used in connection with my device;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section of a limit valve, 30 which may be used for controlling the supply of fuel to the device; and f Fig. 8 is a plan view, with parts broken away of a cooking stove provided with a plurality of gasifying burners, embodying my invention. 35

The device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 comprises a casing"), formed with a body portion 1 I, divided into a fan chamber l2 and a-fuel chamber I3, and a tubular portion l4, outwardlly extending from the upper part of chamber l3, said tubular portion being substantially rectangular in cross section, relatively narrow in a horizontal sense, and carrying at its outer end the burner portion of theapparatus.

Fuel chamber l3 is'preferably of the samewidth as the passage l5 within tubul r extension l4, and houses a splash wheel l6, mounted on a shaft l'l, actuated by an electric motor IS.

on the same shaft is also mounted a fan I9, 50 whichis' housed within chamber l1, said chamher being provided with an inlet 20 and an outlet 7 theiormoi an open top cylindrical shell 22", 5

integral with tubular extension l4, which communicates therewith, thebottom of said shell being providedwith a central opening 23, defined by ,an upwardlyextending inner tubular shell 24, concentric with shell 22, and forming therewith an annular chamber 25. The upper end 26 of said inner shell 24 preferably reaches to a point somewhat higher than the upper edge 21 of outer shell 22, and is formed with an outwardly extending flange 28. On the upper edge 21- of outer sh'ell 22 is set a ringshaped member 29, surrounding the upper portion-of inner shell 24, leaving an annular passage r 30 for the gas to issue to the combustion zone. Said ring-shaped member is made of metal, have inga relatively heavy section, so as to store heat produced by the combustion-of the fuel. The outer shell 22 is preferably heat insulated by a surrounding member 3|, made of heat insulating material, said member being provided with a bottom 32 on which is mounted an electric heating unit 33, upwardly extending therefrom, centrally of inner shell 24.

The center of the burner portion proper is pref erably somewhat laterally'displaced with respect to the vertical plane passing through passage I5 of tubular extension l4, as Figs. 3, 4, clearly show: and an air conduit 34 connects outlet 2 I of chamber I2 to the annular gasifying chamber at a point 35 further spaced from the center of said burner portion at the same side as tubularext'en? sion l4. By virtue of this construction the BCCEH tric impact of the atomized fuel against the sur- 35 face of inner shell 24 tends to deflect the fuel so that it will travel through said annular chamber in a counterclockwise direction, with respect to Figs. Sand 4; and the air supplied by the fan to said chamber, the flow of which is substantially tangential to said chamber, will travel around said chamber with a rapid whirling motion in the same direction and will thus become thoroughly mixed with theiuel particles, and form a combustible gas therewith.

' When the device is' in operation the splash wheel l6, which rotates in a clockwise direction, and which has its lower portion submerged in the liquid contained at the bottom of chamber l3, acts as an impeller, projecting the liquid in spray 50 or comminuted form, with great force directly into passage l5 of tubular extension I4. The

liquid particles will thus strike the hot surface of inner shell 24 and will be converted into vapor,

which will become mixed with theair supplied .through conduit 34 forming a combustible gas therewith; which will ultimately issue through annular slot 30 at th'e top; j Y

. During its whirling motion withinannular chamber 25 the gaseous mixture is preferably L 60 subjected to the action of a spiral'web 35, inserted within annular; chamber 25, which will 'cause said-mixture to of the-burner. The intermediate inlet 35, is formed with a vertical slot-31, which is directed at a slant so as to facilitate the entrance of part of the gasiwhirling within chamber 25; intothe tubular chamber formed by inner shell 24, in a direction substantially tangential to the inner surface-of said inner shell. t

The operation-of the device is started by energizing the heating unit 33, -whi ch,. will initially heat'the inner'shell 24.- i As soon as'the motor is started, the rotation of the splash wheel l6 gradually rise towards the top' portion of inner' shell 24, at y 5 a point circnmferentially spaced from the air.

and fan l9 will cause atomized oil and .air to be projected into chamber 25 and to acquire a rapid whirling motion; therein.- At this stage, most of the fuel will become mixed with the air in its atomized, but not yet fully vaporized, form, but part of this mixture entering through slot 31, the tubular chamber formed by inner shell 24, and continuing to whirl therein, will eventually comelinto contact with theheating unit and will become ignited. It is, of course, possible to bring .the shell or hot impact member to the vaporizing temperature solely by the heat emitted by the heating unit, before the motor is started to actuate the splash wheel. This; makes for quicker generation of the combustible gas, and, therefore, for improved operation; however, when fuelshaving arelatively high flashpoint are used, itwill still be necessary for 'the combustible gas to come in actual contact with theheatingunit, in order to produce -rapid ignition. The initial'flame, which will be in direct contact with the inner surface of inner shell 24, will quickly bring the temperature of said shell to a At this stage it will no longer bencessary to maintain the energization oi heating unit 33 because the combustion of the portion of gas issuing through slot 31 will continue to maintain the high temperature of innershell, 24; the heating unit will, therefore, be deenerg'ized and this may be done automatically-in any suitable manner,

for instance, by the action of'a thermostatic ele-' ment :8, atta'chedat 39 to the base of inner shell 24, said thermostatic element being adapted to actuate-1a switch enclosed within pa casing 40 by means of a connecting rod 4|, as will later be explained. Y t

It is obvious that while I prefer to use an electric heating unit for ignition, whenever possible, rather than a sparking device involving the use of a transformer, it is within the scope of my invention to employ any suitable means for igniting the fuel,'-air mixture at the start;

The 'q-uantityoffuel sprayed against the hot surfaceof shell 24 can alsobecontrolledin a is lowered from the position shown, it 'will cut of! part, or all of the spray directed against the outer end'of tubular extension l4, so that since the quantity 'ofair delivered by Ian. I! is constant, the gas generated will be richer or poorer, according to the position of shutter 42. When the device is 'used'for purposeswhere it is desirable to vary the intensity of the flaineat wlll, said shuttercan be operated by hand; and when a more orile'ss constant flame should be'main-.

tained the operation of said shutter can be controlled by means of a'thermostatic element 44, which when the temperature of shell 24 goes beyonda certain point will shift a rod towards the right, causing angular displacement of a bell crank leyer lif pivotally mounted at 41, in-a counterclockwise direction, and, therefore, causg ing' angular displacement of shutter 42 in aclockwise direction, the Shaft 4: at said shutter carrying a lever;43, the. outerlend of which is connectedby, a rod 43 to the outer end of arm 53- ofbellcranklever". i

Fuel is admitted to chamber 1 3 through a'tube 5| which may be connected to a source of supply through the intermediary of a-float valve, in the usual manner.

I have found that the combustion of the fuel will be improved if a minute quantity ofwater is allowed to drip within chamber l3 and to be sprayed against the hot surface of shell 24, together with the oil. This'is possibly due to the fact that in striking the hot surface the water will become dissociated into its two component elements, oxygen and hydrogen, and the hydrogen combining with the carbon of the fuel increases its volatility or otherwise assists its complete vaporization, while the oxygen will, of course, assist the combustion thereof.

I, therefore, show another tube 52, through which water may be admitted to said chamber l3, in such limited quantities as will be found desirable.

It will be observed that the electric heating unit, being located at the center of inner shell 24 is to a certain extent protected against direct contact with the flame whirling about the inner surface of said part 24. However, it is desirable that the electric heating unit be shielded from direct contact with the flame as much as possible, because while its function is to initiate the combustion of the fuel stream issuing through slot 31, once the combustion has been started the action of the electric heating unit is no longer required. I, therefore, prefer to surround the electric heating unit with a metallic screen 53, made of relatively wide mesh wire netting; that is, a type of wire netting containing a relatively small quantity of metal per square inch, so as to avoid the absorption and dissipation of heat by the wire screen, such as take place in miners lamps, which would tend to prevent the ignition of the gas by the electric heating unit when the operation is first started. On the other hand, a rather coarse screen, such as I advocate, will act as an effective protection for the electric heating unit against the whirling fiame within shell 24.

As stated above, the function of thermostatic element 38 is to cause the deenergization of the electric heating unit whenthe temperature of inner shell 24 has been raised to a certain point.

This thermostatic control can be effected by causing thermostatic element 38 to actuate a switch controlling the circuit of the electric heating unit. In Fig. 6 it is seen that electric heating unit 33 is inserted in .the circuit of two. wires, one of which E lis connected to the main supply wire 55 and the other one, 56,is'connected'to a terminal 51 of a switch having another terminal 58, connected by a wire 59 to the other main supply wire 60. If the switch bar BI is in the position shown, where it bridges the gap between terminals 51, 58, the electric heating 'unit will be energized, whereas if said switch bar is caused to move to its inoperative position, the

- electric heating unit will become deenergized.

For purposes of illustration, I show switch bar 6| as forming'part of a quick make and break switch, said bar being pivotally mounted at 62' 65, pivotally mounted at 66.

Switch actuating arm. is connected by a link 61 to a controlling lever 88, pivotally mounted at 69, said controlling lever being actuated by connecting rod 4|, pivotally connected thereto at 10 and extending to thermostatic element, as shown. I I v It will be seen that when the extension of the thermostatic element 38 causes its stem portion ,of ordinary oil burners is the possibility of a sudden interruption of the current in the supply lines. I, therefore, advocate the provision of an auxiliary source of power; adapted to be put in service in order to meet, such an emergency and preferably automatic means for controlling said auxiliary source of power. For instance, in Fig. 6, the motor I8 is shown as being energized by wires H, 12,- connected to main supply lines 5560,-respectively, said circuit of supply wires being controlled by a switch 13. The auxiliary source of power is represented by a battery 14.

connected by a wire 15 to main supply wire 55 at 15, and connected by another wire 1'! to main supply wire 60 at 18. It will be observed that the circuit of battery 14 is also controlled by switch 13, so that the battery circuit can be enerbized only when switch 13 is closed.

Wire 15 is interrupted at a certain point by a gap 19, the two ends of which are defined by contact points 80, 8|, said gapv being normally bridged by a contact head 82, carried by an extension 83 of the core of an electromagne. 84, said contact head 82 being forced against contact points 80, 8| by a spring 85.

At the opposite end the electromagnet core carries another extension 86, provided with a contact head 81, adapted to bridge a gap 88 in supply wire 60 by contacting the two gap terminals 89, 98. However, due to the action of spring 85, said contact head 87 is normally held in the open gap position shown, where the circuit of wire 60 is interrupted. Electromagnet 84 is shunted between supply wires 65 and 68, so that when switch 13 is closed, in order to initiate the operation of the apparatus, electromagnet 84 will be energized and will cause its core to move towards the left, closing the circuit of wire 60 and openingthe circuit of wire 65. The only active circuit will, therefore, be that of the main supply wire. Should the current flowing through the said main supply line become interrupted, electromagnet 86 will become deenergized and contact head 82 will close the circuit of wire 15, while contact head 81 will open the circuit of wire 60. switch 13 is still closed, however, battery 14 can now supply current to; the motor circuit through its wires 15, TI, until such time when, should the tromagnet 8 4 will again become energized and will restore normal operating conditions.

As stated above, the fuel is admitted to chamber l3 from a suitable source of supply through the intermediary of a float 'valve. maintaining said fuel at the proper level within chamberv l3. The float valve can be of any suitable design, but 1 prefer to. use the type of valve shown in Fig. '7, where 9| designates the hollow body of the valve, 82 the tube leading to the top of said body from Sincethe fuel source of supply, said tube extending downwardly from the top of said valve body to form an axial extension 93, the lower end of which 95 of chamber 96 within the valve body. A float 9'I surrounds extension 93 of the supply tube, the central opening 98 of said float having a diameter certain quantity of mercury I02. When the body of fuel I03 within chamber 96 is at about its normal level, as shown at I04, the upper level I05 of body of mercury I02 is lower than the lower end 94 of supply tube 93, so that fuel can continue to be admitted within chamber 96. As the level of the fuel body within said. chamber rises, the float is forced upwardly so that eventually the mercury will reach the mouth of lower end 94 of tubular extension .93 and will prevent any further flow of fuel therethrough.

Such a type of valve has the advantage over the ordinary needle valve that it is very sensitive and 25 cannot possibly become clogged.

. -As previously stated, I prefer-to also admit within chamber I 3 certain relatively small quantities of water, which maybe allowed -to reach said chamber drop by drop to become mixed 3 with the fuel therein. Of course, it is desirable that, the supply of waterbe automatically regulated in conjunction withthe supply of ,fuel, therefore, inFlg. 7 I illustrate a possible arrangement whereby the water supply can be con- 35 trolled by the same float valve'which controls the supply of 1 11615 Referring to said figure, it will be seen that float'9l is equipped with an.

upwardly extending ,stem I06, the upper end of which extends beyond the top of valve body 9| and is articulatedly connected at I01 to the arm I08. of a lever I09, pivotally mounted at IIO'onto a bracket I II projecting from valve body SL The so that the supply of water to tube 52 will cease.

when the supply of fuel through tube 93 will become interrupted by the action of the float valve. In this manner it becomes possible to pre-' serve a relatively uniform proportion between the quantities of fuel and water supplied to the burner. Y

' My improved gasifier-burner can be used in 60 batteries of two or more, adapted to be actuated by a single motor. For instance, in Fig. 81 show a cooking stove II'I, provided with four of my burners H8, H9, I20, 'I2I, the splash wheel-fan units of said burnersbeing rotatably mounted 5 on a single shaft I22, actuated by motor I23. Each splash wheel-fan unit I24 can be connected to or disconnected from shaft I22 by means of a clutch I25, actuated by a hand lever I26, pivot ally mounted at I21. When said lever is moved 70 to the-clutch engaging position, the corresponding splash wheel-fan unit will become operative and at the same time the circuit controlling the electric heating unit ,of the corresponding burner 15 will also be made operative by the operation ofa 1 2,013,552 96 is spaced acertain distance from the bottom switch arm I28 connected. to lever I 29 by a. link I29, said switch lever closing the; circuit of the heating unit at I30. 7

It will be observed that the design of my apparatus is such that the fuel can issue through ple character, whereby the perfect combustion of oils of even low grade is assured, so that important advantages from the standpoint of both economy and safety of operation are realized.

The construction of my apparatus mayvary in its details from that shown without departingfrom the inventive 'ideaythe drawings, therefore, will be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense. v

' I accordingly reserve the right to carry my invention into practice in all thoseways and manners, which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

-I claim:

1. In a gasifying and burning apparatus for liquid fuels, a burner comprising an outer and an inner shell forming an annular gasifying and mixing chamber, having an air inlet and having I a gas outlet: at its upper end, an igniting un t :within said inner shell, means for spraying liquid fuel directly against the outer surface of said inner shell, means for supplying a current of air under pressure through said inlet to said chamwith said fuel, before it issues from said outlet, means for directing part of saidmixture within,

- and against the inner surface of said inner shell in-proximity to said igniting unit to initiate its combustion and thus raise the temperature of said 'inner' shell to the pointjrequired for the vaporization of the fuel, and heat insulating means surrounding said outer shell. v v

2. In a gasifying and burning apparatus for liquid fuels, a burner comprising an outer and I an inner shell forming an annular gasifying and mixing chamber having a gas outlet at the upper end thereof, means operable to spray liquid fuel directly against the outer surface of said inner shell, means operable to supply a current of air under pressure tangentially to said chamber at a point adjacent to the fuel delivery, whereby the air induces a flow of the oilvapors and mixes therewith in an annular path about the axis of said chamber prior to its discharge therefrom', means for directing part of said mixture withinsaid inner shell and in proximity to the inner surface thereof, and an igniting unit operatively positioned within said inner shell to ignite that part of the mixture deliveredvtherein.

3. In a "gasifying and burning apparatus for liquid fuels, a burner comprising an outer and an inner shell forming an annular g'asifying andmixing chamber having a gas outlet at the upper end thereof, means operable to spray liquid fuel 'directly against the outer surface of said inner shell, means operable to supplya current of air under pressure tangentially to said-chamber at a point adjacent to the fuel delivery, whereby the air induces a flow of the oil vapors and mixes therewithinan annular path aboutthe axis of said chamber prior. to its discharge therefrom, means for directing part'of s'aid mixture within said inner shell and inproximity to the inner surface thereof, an igniting unit operatively positioned within said inner shell to ignite that part of the mixture delivered therein, and a spiral web within said chamber, directing said fuel-air mixture towards said outlet.

4. In a gasifying and burning apparatus for within said inner shell, means operable to spray liquid fuel directly against the outer surface .of said inner shell, means operable to supply a current of air under pressure through said inlet to said chamber so as to form a fuel-air combustible 0 mixture with said fuel, before it issues from -said outlet, means for directing part of said mixtin-e within and against the inner surface of said inner shell in proximity to said igniting unit to initiate its combustion and thus raise the temperature of said inner shell to the point required for the vaporization of the fuel, and means for shielding said igniting unit against direct contact with the flame within said inner shell.

5. A gasifying and burning apparatus for liquid fuels, comprising a body having a fuel chamber and a fan chamber, a splash wheel within said fuel chamber,'a fan within said fan chamber, means for simultaneously operating said splash wheel and fan, a tubular member extending from the periphery of said fuel chamber, a burner, including an outer and an inner shell forming an annular gasifying and mixin chamber communicating with said tubular member, said gasifying and mixing. chamber having a gas outlet at the upper end thereof,'

a conduit extending-from said fan chamber and terminating in an approximately tangential inlet to said mixing chamber, whereby the air induces a flow of the oil vapors and mixes therewith in an annular, path about the axis of said chamber prior to its discharge therefrom, a

vertical slot through said inner shell directed at an angle to the surface thereof, for admito ting part of said fuel-air mixture within said inner shell, substantially; at a tangent to the inner surfacefthereof, and an igniting unit. operatively positioned within said inner shell to ignite the mixture delivered therein whereby 5 the burning mixture therein will raise :the temperatureofsaidinnershelltothe'pointrequired for the vaporization of the fuel directed against itsoutersurface. 6. A g asifyingand burning apparatus for liquid fuels, comprising a body having a fuel chamher and a fan chamber, a splash wheel within said fuel chamberf'a fan within said fan chamber, means for simultaneously operating said splash wheel and fan, a tubular member extending from the periphery of said fuel chamber, a burner, including an outer and an inner shell formingan annular-gasifying and mixing chamber communicating with said tubular member, said gasifying and mixing chamber having a gas outlet at the upper end thereof, a conduit extending from said fan chamber and terminating in an approximately tangential ina let to said mixing chamber, whereby the air with in an annular path about the'axis of said chamber prior to its discharge therefrom, a vertical slot through said inner shell directed at an angle to the surface thereof, for admitting part of said fuel-air mixture within said inner shell, substantially at a tangent to the inner surface thereof, and an igniting unit operatively positioned within said inner shell to ignite the mixture delivered therein whereby the burning mixture therein will raise thetemperature of said inner shell to the point required for the vaporization of the fuel directed against its outer surface, and' means controlling the amount of sprayed fuel reaching the surface of the vaporizing member.

7. In a gasifyin and burning apparatus for liquid fuels, a b er unit comprising a pair of concentric shells forming an annular vaporizing and mixing chamber therebetween, the upper ends of said shells cooperating to form a restricted annular outlet for the'combustible mixture formed in said chamber, said chamber having a fuel inlet, said chamber also havinginnershell, thereby constituting said inner shell an impact f uel vaporizing chamber, means operable to spray liquid fuel directly against the surface of said vaporizing member, and means operable to supply a current of air under pressure through said air inlet and to form a fuel induces a flow of the oil vapors and mixes thereair combustible mixture with the resulting vaporized fuel.

. ALDO CURIONI. 

